Germany: VW workforce bleeds while the board cashes in—with help from the Works Council and IG Metall
Monday, February 16, 2026
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Volkswagen's Works Council leader Daniela Cavallo and IG Metall union district manager Thorsten Gröger announced 35,000 job cuts and up to 20% pay reduction in December 2024, only to see the company's board members receive massive bonuses, with CFO Arno Antlitz attributing the funds to cancelled investments, effectively "stolen" from the workforce.
The company's investment ratio has fallen from 14.3% to 12% of revenue, with CFO Antlitz announcing further cuts, from €180 billion to €160 billion by 2028, while workers are offered a one-time payment of €5,000, which critics argue is an attempt to buy their silence amidst widespread anger and debate on the VW intranet.
As the works council election approaches, opposition groups like the Union for Transformation and the Christian Metalworkers' Union are demanding fair compensation for workers, with some calling for 8-10% pay increases, while IG Metall has made clear that the "orgy of cuts" will continue, prioritizing shareholder interests over worker welfare, according to reports from the World Socialist Web Site.
